PFAS Regulations: Past and Present and Their Impact on Fluoropolymers
A. Ronald Bock, B. Elisabeth Laird
Abstract
Over the last decade, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been the focus of many regulatory initiatives, mainly in the European Union (EU) and the USA. Currently, these regulations are being focused on individual PFASs and related substances, i.e. substances that may degrade into the substance of concern. With the major exception of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which was historically used as a polymerisation aid in the manufacture of many types of fluoropolymers, these regulatory initiatives did not directly address fluoropolymers or their manufacturing processes. Several substances, such as the C9–C14 carboxylic acids, are indirectly linked to fluoropolymers as they could occur as by-products during the polymerisation process and could be found in trace amounts in the final products. With the recent launch of the PFAS restriction process in the EU, fluoropolymers are now included in the regulatory process as they are within the scope of the restriction's current definition of PFASs. This chapter summarises the major regulations and industry initiatives aimed at controlling the use of PFASs globally, with a focus on their impact on fluoropolymers.